Information processing apparatus, display control method, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

A control unit inquires each digital apparatus stored in a memory table in a memory about a power supply mode of the apparatus through an IEEE1394 serial bus. When a response indicates a power-on mode, corresponding icons  61 - 1  and  61 - 2  are normally displayed. When the response indicates a connection standby mode, a corresponding icon  61 - 3  is mesh-displayed. If there is no response, corresponding icons  61 - 4  and  61 - 5  are inversion-displayed. A connection detecting circuit  111  detects a bias voltage of an IEEE1394 serial bus  101  and outputs a detection signal to a main control circuit  122 . On the basis of the input detection signal, the main control circuit  122  controls a power supplying circuit  117  so as to supply a standby electric power to a standby power supplying circuit  116 . On the basis of a command from the main control circuit  122 , the standby power supplying circuit  116  supplies a standby electric power to a physical connecting circuit  112 , a logical connecting circuit  113 , and a standby control circuit  121.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a displaycontrol method, and a recording medium. More particularly, the inventionrelates to an information processing apparatus, a display controlmethod, and a recording medium, in which in case of, for example,mutually connecting a plurality of digital apparatuses by an IEEE1394serial bus, a mode of a power source of each digital apparatus isdisplayed. The invention also relates to an information processingapparatus and a power control method, in which a standby electric poweris supplied to only a corresponding circuit from a connecting state ofthe IEEE1394 serial bus.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, even in an ordinary home, digital apparatuses such as aD-VTR (Digital Video Tape Recorder) for recording digital broadcast andthe like are being spread. In association with it, the operation suchthat the digital broadcast is received and outputted to a televisionreceiver and the digital broadcast is monitored or the operation suchthat the digital broadcast is transferred to the D-VTR and recorded as adigital signal as it is can be easily performed.

For example, the IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers) 1394 serial bus having a high degree of freedom of connectionand high durability is used for mutual connection of the digitalapparatuses.

According to the IEEE1394 serial bus, even when a power source of theelectronic apparatus connected thereto is in a standby mode, the powersource of the electronic apparatus can be turned on by sending acommand. Each electronic apparatus, therefore, is set to the standbymode and a current is always supplied to the apparatus.

However, when the power source of the electronic apparatus is OFF(disconnecting state), since no command can be received, the existenceof the electronic apparatus cannot be recognized. Further, there is aproblem such that when the number of electronic apparatuses connected toa network increases, it is difficult to distinguish the electronicapparatus in the standby mode including a power-on state from theelectronic apparatus in the disconnecting state.

Therefore, although there is a method of always setting the powersources of all of the electronic apparatuses connected to the networkinto the standby mode, an electric power is supplied even to theelectronic apparatus whose use frequency is low, so that there is aproblem such that a large electric power (standby electric power) iseventually consumed.

There is also a problem such that since the IEEE1394 serial buscommunicates with many apparatuses, in the apparatuses connected to thebus, it is necessary to make many circuits operative and, since theapparatus operates at a high speed, a large electric power (standbyelectric power) is consumed even in the standby mode.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The invention is made in consideration of such a situation and intendsto display a mode of a power source of each electronic apparatus andenable the power source of the electronic apparatus to be easilymanaged.

The invention is made in consideration of such a situation and intendsto reduce a standby electric power in accordance with a connecting stateof a bus.

An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of theinvention includes memory means for storing a plurality of apparatusesconnected to a network, and display control means for controlling adisplay of a current supply mode, a standby mode, or a currentnon-supply mode of the plurality of apparatuses stored in the memorymeans so that the modes can be distinguished.

Apparatuses disconnected from the network can be also stored in thememory means.

Power input instructing means for instructing a power input through thenetwork can be further provided for the apparatus in the standby mode.

The IEEE1394 serial bus can be used as a network.

A display control method according to a further aspect of the inventionincludes a storage control step of controlling storage of a plurality ofapparatuses connected to a network, and a display control step ofcontrolling a display of a current supply mode, a standby mode, or acurrent non-supply mode of the plurality of apparatuses stored by thecontrol in the storage control step so that the modes can bedistinguished.

A program for a recording medium according to a still further aspect ofthe invention includes a storage control step of controlling storage ofa plurality of apparatuses connected to a network, and a display controlstep of controlling a display of a current supply mode, a standby mode,or a current non-supply mode of the plurality of apparatuses stored bythe control in the storage control step so that the modes can bedistinguished.

An information processing apparatus according to another aspect of theinvention includes detecting means for detecting a connecting state of abus; and control means for controlling a supply of an electric power soas to supply the electric power to a predetermined circuit among aplurality of circuits on the basis of a detection result of thedetecting means.

The detecting means can detect a bias voltage from a signal line of thebus.

An IEEE1394 serial bus can be used as a bus.

A power control method according to an additional aspect of theinvention includes a detecting step of detecting a connecting state of abus; and a control step of controlling so as to supply the electricpower to a circuit among a plurality of circuits on the basis of adetection result in the detecting step.

In the information processing apparatus, the display control method, andthe recording medium of the invention, the plurality of apparatusesconnected to the network are stored and the display of the currentsupply mode, standby mode, or current non-supply mode of the pluralityof apparatuses is controlled so that the modes can be distinguished. Inthe information processing apparatus and the power control method of theinvention, the connecting state of the bus is detected and the electricpower is supplied to the predetermined circuit on the basis of thedetection result.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of a network system towhich the invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a constructional example of an STB 2in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a specification informationcollecting process;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a power managing process;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining icons 61-1 to 61-5 which aredisplayed on an output unit 52 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining bar graphs;

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the icons 61-1 to 61-5 which aredisplayed on the output unit 52 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a constructional example of anelectronic apparatus to which the invention is applied;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining processes for supplying an electricpower to each circuit in the electronic apparatus in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a supply of an electric power toeach circuit corresponding to a connecting state of a bus.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a constructional example of a network system to which theinvention is applied. A television receiver 1 is connected to an STB(Set Top Box) 2 through an IEEE1394 serial bus 11. The STB 2 isconnected to a D-VHS (Digital Video Home System) (trademark) 4 as adigital video tape recorder through the IEEE1394 serial bus 11. The STB2 demodulates a signal of a predetermined channel from a receptionsignal of a satellite broadcast wave received by a parabolic antenna 3.

A digital video camera 5 is connected to the television receiver 1through the IEEE1394 serial bus 11. A VHS 6 as an analog video taperecorder is also connected to the TV receiver 1 through an analog cord12.

The STB 2 is constructed as shown in, for example, FIG. 2. A tuner 21receives a signal of a predetermined transmission channel (transmissionchannel including a broadcast channel instructed from a control unit 29)from the reception signal of the broadcast wave received by theparabolic antenna 3 on the basis of a command from the control unit 29and outputs it to a demultiplexer 22.

The demultiplexer 22 extracts the signal of a predetermined broadcastchannel from the inputted signal of the transmission channel on thebasis of a command from a control unit 29, outputs a video signal in theextracted signal to a video decoder 23, and outputs an audio signal toan audio decoder 24, respectively. The demultiplexer 22 also extracts asignal of a desired broadcast channel to be recorded and supplies it toan IEEE1394 interface (I/F) 28.

If the supplied video signal has been compressed by an MPEG (MovingPicture Experts Group) format or the like, the video decoder 23decompresses it, corrects a delay time between an audio sound and avideo image due to the compression and decompression, and outputs thevideo signal to a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) 53. If the supplied audiosignal has been compressed, the audio decoder 24 decompresses it andoutputs it as an analog audio signal to a speaker 54. The CRT 53displays a video image corresponding to the input video signal. Thespeaker 54 reproduces the input audio sound.

The IEEE1394 interface 28 outputs the signal supplied from thedemultiplexer 22 to the IEEE1394 serial bus 11 and supplies the signalfrom the IEEE1394 serial bus 11 to the demultiplexer 22.

The control unit 29 controls the tuner 21, demultiplexer 22, and memory30 on the basis of a command from an input unit 51. The control unit 29allows a category of the apparatus, a name of a manufacturer, afunction, a node unique ID, and the like as specification (property)information of each of the digital apparatuses (television receiver 1,D-VHS 4, and digital video camera 5) which is inputted from the IEEE1394interface 28 through the IEEE1394 serial bus 11 to be stored into amemory table in the memory 30. The VHS 6 as an analog apparatus cannotbe directly connected to the IEEE1394 serial bus 11 as a digital bus.Thus, the IEEE1394 interface 28 cannot detect the VHS 6. Accordingly,the user operates the input unit 51, so that the property information ofthe VHS is directly inputted.

The input unit 51 is constructed by, for example, a remote commander orthe like and operated by the user when the user inputs various commandsto the control unit 29. An output unit 52 is constructed by, forexample, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, selects apredetermined type from the memory table stored in the memory 30 on thebasis of a command from the control unit 29 and displays it. A magneticdisk 41, an optical disk 42, a magnetooptic disk 43, a semiconductormemory 44, or the like can be inserted into a drive 31.

The specification information collecting process which is executed everybus reset will now be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 3.

In step S1, the control unit 29 selects one of the digital apparatusesconnected to the network. In step S2, the control unit 29 inquires theapparatus selected in step S1 of the property information of theapparatus from the IEEE1394 interface 28 through the IEEE1394 serial bus11.

In step S3, the control unit 29 discriminates whether a response hasbeen received from the apparatus inquired in step S2 or not. If it isdetermined that no response is received, the processing routine isreturned to step S1 and the foregoing processes are repeated. If it isdecided in step S3 that the response has been received, step S4 followsand the control unit 29 discriminates whether the received propertyinformation has already been recorded in the memory table in the memory30 or not.

If it is determined in step S4 that the property information is notrecorded in the memory table yet, step S5 follows. The control unit 29allows the received property information to be stored into the memorytable in the memory 30 together with the date. If it is decided in stepS4 that the received property information has already been stored in thememory table, step S6 follows. The control unit 29 updates the date ofthe registration of the corresponding property information stored in thememory table in the memory 30.

After the process in step S5 or S6, the control unit 29 discriminateswhether all of the digital apparatuses connected to the network havebeen selected or not in step S7. If it is determined that all of theapparatuses are not selected yet, the processing routine is returned tostep S1 and the foregoing processes are repeated.

If it is determined in step S7 that all of the digital apparatusesconnected to the network have been selected, step S8 follows. Thecontrol unit 29 discriminates whether the property information whoseregistration date has expired by one year or more exists in the propertyinformation stored in the memory table in the memory 30 or not. If it isdecided that the property information whose registration date hasexpired by one year or more, step S9 follows. The control unit 29deletes the property information whose registration date has expired byone year or more exists from the property information stored in thememory table in the memory 30. The processing routine is finished. If itis decided in step S8 that the property information whose registrationdate has expired by one year or more does not exist, the process in stepS9 is skipped. The processing routine is finished.

Although whether the registration date has expired by one year or moreor not is discriminated in the above example, the number of days in sucha case can be arbitrarily set.

The power managing process which is executed every predetermined timewill now be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 4.

In step S21, the control unit 29 selects one of the digital apparatuses(property information) stored in the memory table in the memory 30. Instep S22, the control unit 29 inquires the apparatus selected in stepS21 of a power supply mode of such an apparatus through the IEEE1394serial bus 11 from the IEEE1394 interface 28. In step S23, the controlunit 29 discriminates whether a response has been received from theapparatus inquired in step S22 or not, that is, whether the connectingstate is in the disconnection mode (since the apparatus whose powersource is OFF can neither receive an inquiry nor return the response,when no response is returned, it is determined that the apparatus is inthe disconnection mode) or not. If it is decided that no response isreceived, step S24 follows. The control unit 29 selects the tape ofapparatus from the property information stored in the memory table inthe memory 30 and allows the icon corresponding to the apparatus whosemode has been determined as a disconnection mode to beinversion-displayed on the output unit 52. For example, as shown in FIG.5, if the apparatus is the digital video camera 5, an icon 61-4corresponding thereto is inversion-displayed.

If it is decided in step S23 that the response has been received, stepS25 follows. The control unit 29 discriminates whether the power supplymode of the received response is a power-on mode or not. If it isdecided that the power supply mode is the power-on mode, step S26follows. The control unit 29 selects the type of such an apparatus fromthe property information stored in the memory table in the memory 30 andallows the icon corresponding to such an apparatus which has beendetermined to be the power supply mode to be normally displayed on theoutput unit 52. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, if the apparatus is thetelevision receiver 1, the icon 61-1 corresponding to it is normallydisplayed.

If it is determined in step S25 that the power supply mode of theresponse is not the power-on mode, step S27 follows. Since the powersupply mode of the response is the connection standby mode (standby modein which although a main power switch is ON, a sub power switch is OFF),the control unit 29 selects the type of such an apparatus from theproperty information stored in the memory table in the memory 30 andallows the icon corresponding to the apparatus whose power supply modehas been determined to be the connection standby mode to bemesh-displayed on the output unit 52. For example, if the apparatus isthe D-VHS 4 as shown in FIG. 5, the icon 61-3 corresponding to such anapparatus is mesh-displayed.

After the processes in steps S24, S26, and S27, the control unit 29discriminates whether all of the digital apparatuses stored in thememory table in the memory 30 have been selected or not in step S28. Ifit is determined that all of the digital apparatuses are not selectedyet, the processing routine is returned to step S21 and the foregoingsubsequent processes are repeated. If it is determined in step S28 thatall of the digital apparatuses have been selected, the processingroutine advances to step S29 and the control unit 29 discriminateswhether a predetermined time has elapsed or not. If it is decided thatthe predetermined time does not elapse, the apparatus waits until it isdetermined that the predetermined time has elapsed in step S29. Thepredetermined time can be arbitrarily set. If it is decided that thepredetermined time has elapsed, the processing routine is returned tostep S21 and the foregoing processes are repeated. In the example ofFIG. 5, further, the self icon 61-2 is normally displayed and the icon61-5 of the VHS 6 is inversion-displayed.

As mentioned above, since the power supply mode is inquired everypredetermined time and the corresponding icon is displayed on the basisof its response, the user can easily confirm the power supply mode ofeach apparatus from the display state of the icon.

When the icon of the connection standby mode (icon 61-3 in the exampleof FIG. 5) among the foregoing icons is clicked, a power-on command istransmitted to the apparatus corresponding to the icon. For example,although the icon 61-3 in FIG. 5 now indicates the connection standbymode, if this icon is clicked by the user, the power-on command istransmitted to the corresponding apparatus (D-VHS 4 in this case). Atthis time, for a time interval from the transmission of the power-oncommand to the switching from the mode of the D-VHS 4 to the power-onmode, the control unit 29 of the STB 2 allows a bar graph 71 to bedisplayed on the output unit 52 (for example, LCD) as shown in FIG.6(A), thereby enabling the user to confirm the fact that the command hasbeen sent. After completion of the transmission of the command, the bargraph 71 becomes as shown in FIG. 6(B). The icon 61-3 is changed to thenormal display as shown in FIG. 7.

Since each digital apparatus is inquired the power supply mode throughthe IEEE1394 serial bus 11 and the icon corresponding to the power-onmode, connection standby mode, or disconnection mode is displayed asmentioned above, the power source can be easily managed. In case of theconnection standby mode, even if the power switch of the apparatus isnot directly turned on, by clicking its icon, the power-on command istransmitted. Therefore, the mode can be easily switched even for anapparatus installed at a remote location.

Although the category of the apparatus in the property informationstored in the memory table has been displayed on the icon in the aboveexample, according to the invention, the other items such as name ofmanufacturer, function, node unique ID, and the like can be alsodisplayed. Further, although the icons 61-1 to 61-5 have been normallydisplayed, mesh-displayed, or inversion-displayed in order todistinguish the modes of the power source, an arbitrary display methodcan be used so long as three modes of the power source can bedistinguished by, for example, colors or the like.

Software to execute the foregoing series of processes is installed fromthe recording medium into a computer in which a program constructing thesoftware has been built in dedicated hardware or, for example, into ageneral personal computer or the like in which various functions can beexecuted by installing various programs.

As shown in FIG. 2, the recording medium is constructed not only by thecontrol unit 29 which is provided for the user in a state where it haspreviously been built in the STB 2 and in which the program has beenrecorded but also by a package media comprising the magnetic disk 41(including a floppy disk), optical disk 42 (including a CD-ROM (CompactDisk-Read Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disk)), magnetooptic disk43 (including an MD (Mini-Disk)), semiconductor memory 44, or the likewhich is distributed to provide the program to the user separately fromthe computer and in which the program has been recorded.

In the specification, a step of describing the program which is recordedinto the recording medium includes not only processes which aretime-sequentially executed in the disclosed order but also processeswhich are executed in parallel or individually even if they are notalways time-sequentially executed.

In the specification, the system shows the whole apparatus constructedby a plurality of apparatuses.

A construction of an electronic apparatus which can reduce a standbyelectric power in accordance with a connecting state of the bus will nowbe described with reference to FIG. 8. Although the foregoing STB 2 willbe described as an example as an electronic apparatus 102, an apparatussuch as television receiver, D-VHS, digital video camera, or the likecan be also used. The electronic apparatus 102 is connected to anexternal apparatus (for example, personal computer) through an IEEE1394serial bus 101. A plug (not shown) of the IEEE1394 serial bus 101 isconnected to a terminal of a physical connecting circuit 112. Thus, inthe electronic apparatus 102, a supply of digital data transmitted fromthe external apparatus through the IEEE1394 serial bus 101 is receivedby the physical connecting circuit 112 and the digital data istransmitted from the physical connecting circuit 112 to the externalapparatus through the IEEE1394 serial bus 101.

A connection detecting circuit 111 detects a bias voltage of theIEEE1394 serial bus 101 and outputs a detection signal to a main controlcircuit 122 of a control circuit 115. The physical connecting circuit112 is constructed by, for example, an IEEE1394 digital interface or thelike, amplifies the digital data inputted through the IEEE1394 serialbus 101, and outputs it to a logical connecting circuit 113. Thephysical connecting circuit 112 also amplifies the digital data inputtedfrom the logical connecting circuit 113 and outputs it to the externalapparatus through the IEEE1394 serial bus 101.

The logical connecting circuit 113 depacketizes the digital data whichwas inputted from the physical connecting circuit 112 and has beenpacketized and multiplexed, thereby separating it into a video signal,an audio signal, and a control signal. The circuit 113 outputs the videosignal and audio signal to a signal processing circuit 114 and outputsthe control signal to a standby control circuit 121 of the controlcircuit 115. The logical connecting circuit 113 also executes anaddition of an error correction code, a multiplexing process, and thelike to the video signal or audio signal inputted from the signalprocessing circuit 114 and outputs the resultant signal to the physicalconnecting circuit 112.

The signal processing circuit 114 supplies the inputted video signal andaudio signal to built-in video decoder and audio decoder (they are notshown), respectively. The video decoder decodes the inputted video dataand outputs it to a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) (not shown) as necessary. Theaudio decoder decodes the inputted audio data and outputs it to aspeaker (not shown) as necessary. The signal processing circuit 114 alsoencodes the video signal and audio signal by the built-in-video encoderand audio encoder and outputs them to the logical connecting circuit113.

The standby control circuit 121 outputs a signal corresponding to thecontrol signal inputted from the logical connecting circuit 113 to themain control circuit 122. When a power switch (main power source) of themain body is turned on by the user, the standby control circuit 121supplies its command (control signal) to the main control circuit 122.

The main control circuit 122 is constructed by, for example, amicrocomputer or the like and controls a power supplying circuit 117 soas to supply an electric power to a standby power supplying circuit 116on the basis of the detection signal inputted from the connectiondetecting circuit 111. The main control circuit 122 also controls thepower supplying circuit 117 so as to supply an electric power to thesignal processing circuit 114 on the basis of a command (command to turnon the main power source) from the user.

The standby power supplying circuit 116 supplies a standby electricpower to the physical connecting circuit 112, logical connecting circuit113, and standby control circuit 121 on the basis of a command from themain control circuit 122. When a power plug (not shown) is connected toa power plug terminal of the electronic apparatus 102 and the powerswitch (not shown) is ON, the power supplying circuit 117 supplies thestandby electric power to the connection detecting circuit 111 and maincontrol circuit 122. The power supplying circuit 117 also supplies theelectric power to the standby power supplying circuit 116 or signalprocessing circuit 114 on the basis of a command from the main controlcircuit 122.

A specific example of the operation for detecting the connecting stateof the IEEE1394 serial bus 101 and supplying the electric power to eachcircuit on the basis of its detection result will now be described withreference to a flowchart of FIG. 9.

In step S31, the power supplying circuit 117 sets the mode of theelectronic apparatus 102 into a power-off mode. That is, the powersupplying circuit 117 does not supply an electric power to all of thecircuits (connection detecting circuit 111, physical connecting circuit112, logical connecting circuit 113, signal processing circuit 114,standby power supplying circuit 116, standby control circuit 121, andmain control circuit 122) as shown in FIG. 10(D). In the diagram, oindicates that the electric power is supplied from the power supplyingcircuit 117 and x denotes that the electric power is not supplied fromthe power supplying circuit 117. At this time, no electric power issupplied.

In step S32, the power supplying circuit 117 discriminates whether thepower plug has been connected to the power plug terminal of theelectronic apparatus 102 or not (and whether the main power switch hasbeen turned on or not). If it is determined that the power plug is notconnected, the apparatus waits until it is determined that the powerplug has been connected in step S32.

If it is determined that the power plug has been connected (and that themain power switch has been turned on) in step S32, in step S33, thepower supplying circuit 117 sets the disconnection standby mode andsupplies a standby electric power to the connection detecting circuit111 and main control circuit 122 (FIG. 10(A)). Thus, when the detectionsignal showing that the IEEE1394 serial bus 101 has been connected isinputted from the connection detecting circuit 111, the main controlcircuit 122 can shift the mode of the electronic apparatus 102 from thedisconnection (state where the IEEE1394 serial bus 1 is not connected)standby mode to the connection standby mode (standby mode in a statewhere the IEEE1394 serial bus 1 has been connected). In thedisconnection standby mode, since the number of circuits to which theelectric power is supplied is smaller than that in the case of theconnection standby mode or power-on mode, the electric power consumptioncan be suppressed by an amount corresponding to it.

In step S34, the connection detecting circuit 111 discriminates whetherthe plug of the IEEE1394 serial bus 101 has been connected to thephysical connecting circuit 112 or not, that is, whether a bias voltagehas been detected from the IEEE1394 serial bus 101 or not. If it isdetermined that the plug of the IEEE1394 serial bus 101 is notconnected, the apparatus waits until it is determined that the plug ofthe IEEE1394 serial bus 101 has been connected.

In step S34, if it is determined that the plug of the IEEE1394 serialbus 101 has been connected, the connection detecting circuit 111 outputsthe detection signal to the main control circuit 122. At this time, instep S35, the main control circuit 122 controls the power supplyingcircuit 117 so as to set the connection standby mode and allows thestandby power supplying circuit 116 to supply an electric power. Thestandby power supplying circuit 116 supplies a standby electric power tothe physical connecting circuit 112, logical connecting circuit 113, andstandby control circuit 121 on the basis of a command from the maincontrol circuit 122 (FIG. 10(B)).

Thus, for example, when the power-on command is sent from the externalapparatus through the IEEE1394 serial bus 101 or the self sub powerswitch is turned on, the electronic apparatus 102 (main control circuit122) can be set to the power-on mode. Although in the connection standbymode, an electric power larger than that in the disconnection standbymode is consumed, an electric power smaller than that in the power-onmode is consumed.

In step S36, the main control circuit 122 discriminates whether the userturns on the sub power switch or the command of the power-on mode hasbeen sent from the external apparatus and the power-on mode has beeninstructed or not. If it is determined that the power-on mode is notinstructed, the processing routine is returned to step S35 and theforegoing processes are repeated. If it is determined in step S36 thatthe power-on mode has been instructed, the main control circuit 122controls the power supplying circuit 117 so as to supply an electricpower to the signal processing circuit 114 in step S37 (FIG. 10(C)),thereby shifting the mode of the electronic apparatus 102 (the mode isat present the connection standby mode) to the power-on mode. At thistime, although the largest electric power is consumed, the electronicapparatus 102 enters a state where all of the processes can beperformed.

In step S38, the power supplying circuit 117 discriminates whether therelease of the power-on mode has been instructed from an externalapparatus or the self sub power switch has been operated and such arelease has been instructed or not. If the release is instructed, theprocessing routine is returned to step S35 and the mode is shifted tothe operation standby mode. Further, the processing routine advances tostep S36 and the foregoing subsequent processes are executed. If therelease of the power-on mode is not instructed, step S39 follows. Theconnection detecting circuit 111 discriminates whether the connection ofthe plug of the IEEE1394 serial bus 101 has been released or not, thatis, whether no bias voltage is detected from the IEEE1394 serial bus 101or not. If it is decided that the connection of the plug of the IEEE1394serial bus 101 is not released, step S40 follows and the power supplyingcircuit 117 discriminates whether the connection of the power plug hasbeen released or not. If it is determined that it is not released, theprocessing routine is returned to step S37 and the foregoing processesare repeated.

If it is decided in step S39 that the connection of the plug of theIEEE1394 serial bus 101 has been released, the main control circuit 122returns to step S33 and shifts the mode of the electronic apparatus 102(the mode is at present the power-on mode) to the disconnection standbymode. Further, step S34 follows and the foregoing subsequent processesare repeated. If it is decided in step S40 that the connection of thepower plug has been released, the main control circuit 122 returns tostep S31 and shifts the mode of the electronic apparatus 102 (the modeis at present the power-on mode) to the power-off mode. Further, stepS102 follows and the foregoing subsequent processes are repeated.

As mentioned above, when the main power switch is turned on, to detectthe bias voltage of the IEEE1394 serial bus 101, the standby electricpower is supplied to the connection detecting circuit 111 and maincontrol circuit 122. Thus, when the plug of the IEEE1394 serial bus 101is connected to the terminal of the physical connecting circuit 111, theconnection detecting circuit 111 detects the bias voltage. The maincontrol circuit 122 receives the input of the detection signal andcontrols the power supplying circuit 117 so as to supply an electricpower to the standby power supplying circuit 116. The standby powersupplying circuit 116 further supplies a standby electric power to thephysical connecting circuit 112, logical connecting circuit 113, andstandby control circuit 121. Therefore, the electric power can besupplied only to a predetermined circuit in accordance with theconnecting state of the bus.

Although the case of detecting the bias voltage of the IEEE1394 serialbus 101 in order to detect the connection standby mode of the bus hasbeen described above as an example, the invention can be alsoconstructed in a manner such that a contact to observe the conduction ofa shield outside of the plug of the IEEE1394 serial bus 101 is providedon the reception side of the plug and the connection standby mode (theplug has been connected) is physically detected.

Although the case of detecting the connecting state of the IEEE1394serial bus 101 has been described above as an example, the invention canbe also applied to a case of detecting a connecting state of anotherbus.

As mentioned above, according to the information processing apparatus,the display control method of the invention, and the recording medium, aplurality of apparatuses connected to the network are stored and thedisplay of the current supply mode, standby mode, or current non-supplymode of the plurality of stored apparatuses is controlled so that themodes can be distinguished. Therefore, the power source of theelectronic apparatus can be easily managed.

According to the information processing apparatus and the power controlmethod of the invention, since the connecting state of the bus isdetected and the electric power is supplied to a predetermined circuitbased on the detection result, the waste standby electric power can bereduced.

1. An information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of otherapparatuses via a network, said apparatus comprising: inquiring meansfor querying a respective one of the plurality of other apparatuses asto its power mode; discriminating means for determining that the powermode of the respective apparatus is a power-off mode when a responsefrom the respective apparatus is not detected, and, when a response fromthe respective apparatus is detected, for determining whether the powermode of the respective apparatus is a power-on mode or a standby modebased on the detected response; memory means for storing apparatus typeinformation on the of the respective apparatus; and display controlmeans for retrieving the apparatus type information of the respectiveapparatus from said memory means and for controlling a display to showthe apparatus type of the respective apparatus and to show whether thepower mode of the respective apparatus is the power-on mode, the standbymode, or the power-off mode.
 2. An information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising power input instructing meansfor receiving an external power-on command intended for the respectiveapparatus and for providing the power-on command to a power source ofthe respective apparatus via the network when the respective apparatusis in the standby mode.
 3. An information processing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the network includes an IEEE1394 serial bus.
 4. Aninformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saiddisplay control means causes the display to show an icon representingthe respective apparatus, the appearance of the icon indicating theapparatus type of the respective apparatus and whether the power mode ofthe respective apparatus is the power-on mode, the standby mode, or thepower-off mode.
 5. An information processing apparatus according toclaim 4, further comprising power input instructing means for receivingan external power-on command intended for the respective apparatus whenthe icon representing the respective apparatus is activated and forproviding the power-on command to a power source of the respectiveapparatus via the network when the respective apparatus is in thestandby mode.
 6. An information processing apparatus according to claim5, wherein said display control means causes the display to show anindication that the power-on command has been sent to the power sourceof the respective apparatus.
 7. An information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising further inquiring means forquerying the respective apparatus as to the apparatus type of therespective apparatus and further discriminating means for determiningwhether a response has been received from the respective apparatus andfor determining whether the received response is already stored in saidstorage means, and wherein said storage means stores the receivedresponse as the apparatus type information of the respective apparatuswhen the received response is not already stored in said storage means.8. A mode display control method for an information processing apparatusconnected to a plurality of other apparatuses via a network, said methodcomprising: storing apparatus type information of a respective one ofthe plurality of other apparatuses; querying the respective apparatus asto its power mode; determining that the power mode of the respectiveapparatus is a power-off mode when a response from the respectiveapparatus is not detected; when a response from the respective apparatusis detected, determining whether the power mode of the respectiveapparatus is a power-on mode or a standby mode based on the detectedresponse; retrieving the stored apparatus type information of therespective apparatus; and controlling a display to show the apparatustype of the respective apparatus and to show and whether the power modeof the respective apparatus is the power-on mode, the standby mode, orthe power-off mode.
 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein saidquerying, detecting, determining, storing, retrieving and controllingsteps are repeated for each of the plurality of other apparatuses.
 10. Amethod according to claim 8, wherein said controlling step causes thedisplay to show an icon representing the respective apparatus, theappearance of the icon indicating the apparatus type of the respectiveapparatus and whether the power mode of the respective apparatus is thepower-on mode, the standby mode, or the power-off mode.
 11. A methodaccording to claim 10, further comprising receiving an external power-oncommand intended for the respective apparatus when the icon representingthe respective apparatus is activated and providing the power-on commandto a power source of the respective apparatus via the network when therespective apparatus is in the standby mode.
 12. A method according toclaim 11, further comprising causing the display to show an indicationthat the power-on command has been sent to the power source of therespective apparatus.
 13. A method according to claim 8, furthercomprising receiving an external power-on command intended for therespective apparatus and providing the power-on command to a powersource of the respective apparatus via the network when the respectiveapparatus is in the standby mode.
 14. A method according to claim 8,wherein the network includes an IEEE1394 serial bus, and said queryingand detecting steps are performed via the IEEE1394 serial bus.
 15. Amethod according to claim 8, further comprising further querying therespective apparatus as to the apparatus type of the respectiveapparatus prior to said step of querying the respective apparatus as toits power mode, and determining whether a response has been receivedfrom the respective apparatus and whether the received response isalready stored, and wherein said storing step includes storing thereceived response as the apparatus type information of the respectiveapparatus when the received response is not already stored.
 16. Arecording medium recorded with a program for carrying out a mode displaycontrol method for an information processing apparatus connected to aplurality of other apparatuses via a network, said method comprising:storing apparatus type information of a respective one of the pluralityof other apparatuses; querying the respective apparatus as to its powermode; determining that the power mode of the respective apparatus is apower-off mode when a response from the respective apparatus is notdetected; when a response from the respective apparatus is detected,determining whether the power mode of the respective apparatus is apower-on mode or a standby mode based on the detected response;retrieving the stored apparatus type information of the respectiveapparatus; and controlling a display to show the apparatus type of therespective apparatus and to show whether the power mode of therespective apparatus is the power-on mode, the standby mode, or thepower-off mode.
 17. A recording medium according to claim 16, whereinsaid querying, detecting, determining, storing, retrieving andcontrolling steps are repeated for each of the plurality of otherapparatuses.
 18. A recording medium according to claim 16, wherein saidcontrolling step causes the display to show an icon representing therespective apparatus, the appearance of the icon indicating theapparatus type of the respective apparatus and whether the power mode ofthe respective apparatus is the power-on mode, the standby mode, or thepower-off mode.
 19. A recording medium according to claim 18, whereinsaid method further comprises receiving an external power-on commandintended for the respective apparatus when the icon representing therespective apparatus is activated and providing the power-on command toa power source of the respective apparatus via the network when therespective apparatus is in the standby mode.
 20. A recording mediumaccording to claim 19, wherein said method further comprises causing thedisplay to show an indication that the power-on command has been sent tothe power source of the respective apparatus.
 21. A recording mediumaccording to claim 16, wherein said method further comprises receivingan external power-on command intended for the respective apparatus andproviding the power-on command to a power source of the respectiveapparatus via the network when the respective apparatus is in thestandby mode.
 22. A recording medium according to claim 16, wherein thenetwork includes an IEEE1394 serial bus, and said querying and detectingsteps are performed via the IEEE1394 serial bus.
 23. A recording mediumaccording to claim 16, wherein said method further comprises furtherquerying the respective apparatus as to the apparatus type of therespective apparatus prior to said step of querying the respectiveapparatus as to its power mode, and determining whether a response hasbeen received from the respective apparatus and whether the receivedresponse is already stored, and wherein said storing step includesstoring the received response as the apparatus type information of therespective apparatus when the received response is not already stored.